By Poch Eulalia

A sense of wonder took over me when I arrived at the Bicol International Airport in Daraga. Peering out of the airport’s windows, I saw trees that stretched out over to the mountains and livestock roaming about widespread fields of green. There was no smog in the air and the clouds kept the bright beams of the sun at bay. It was as if a landscape painting had come to life, filling me with a sense of awe as I marveled at the gift of nature that was present before me. Our first destination, Siama Hotel, is a modern 30-room boutique hotel nestled within a coconut plantation just an hour away from the airport. LOVE FOR HISTORY Museo Sorsogon offers a look into the rich history and culture of Sorsogon from the colonial era up until the Martial Law era
Siama is owned by industrial designer Milo Naval, who has done a remarkable job in designing the place. Its design, which is based on the traditional nipa hut, is meant to evoke a sense of homeliness for the guest. Furniture in the area amplifies the summer getaway vibes, with its woven rattan chairs and wooden tables. A 25-meter-long pool rests in the center of it all, surrounded by trees and plants, perfect for a midday swim. Throughout my stay I felt like Pablo Escobar, the Columbian drug lord featured in Netflix’s Narcos series, hiding away in my own tropical paradise akin to his luxurious estate Hacienda Nápoles. While the weather was not as sunny as I had hoped it would be, with a northeast monsoon delivering strong winds and intermittent rainfall at the time of my visit, Sorsogon kept giving delightful surprises in each location we visited. IT’S LIT Bulusan Volcano was active under alert level one up until last January when PHIVOLCS declared the active volcano had returned to its normal condition
Bulusan Lake is right at the heart of Bulusan Volcano National Park. I can only imagine the beauty of this area on a clear sunny day, but not even the cold weather and Silent Hill-esque fog could deter me from appreciating it all. The abundance of trees is a welcome sight, with it spanning over 3,673 hectares worth of protected rainforest land. Our tour guide mentioned that it is also home to much wildlife, such as various snakes and the Philippine native monkey or Philippine macaque. Tourists can avail themselves of the kayaks and family boats to further explore the lake. Trekking is also a popular activity in the area, although it is temporarily suspended on account of the volcano having shown some signs of activity classified under alert level one recently. TROPICAL GETAWAY Siama Hotel has over 30 rooms and a 25-meter-long pool nestled within a coconut plantation giving visitors a mini tropical paradise away from the city
Lunchtime had us visiting the Balay Buhay sa Uma Bee Farm, a Department of Tourism (DOT) accredited agri-tourism farm site. Of the meals offered to us, my favorite was Tabagwang (sea snail), which I had to eat by sucking through the sea snail’s shell. It would make an amusing sort of whistling sound each time. The taste was nothing like I’d had before, with a trace of sweetness from the coconut milk. There is also an extensive coffee menu for coffee lovers to go through. What I liked best about the place was the beehives present at the entrance, where anyone could spot the bees buzzing away and working to make honey. BETTER THAN ESCARGOT Tabagwang (sea snail) can be eaten by sucking through its shell or using a toothpick
Finally, we visited Museo Sorsogon, a project of Senator Chiz Escudero during his tenure as governor of Sorsogon. Formerly a provincial jailhouse and courthouse, the century-old structure was converted into a museum and opened to the public in 2021. It has exhibits showcasing the rich history and culture of the province, from colonial times up until the Martial Law era. I was fascinated by some of the wall paintings by the former inmates, my personal favorite is one of the Lady of Justice on the museum’s second floor. An open-air amphitheater can be found at the back of the museum, meant for events and stage performances. Inner peace was somewhat alien to me before, constantly worrying over deadlines and personal matters, until I arrived in Sorsogon. After having gone through all these sites and immersing myself in the abundance of nature in its area, it was quite a meditative experience. It truly is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. If you plan on taking a detox from the everyday grind, Sorsogon is the place to be.
During my stay, I used the OPPO Reno8 T 5G with its 108-megapixel camera. Known as “the portrait expert,” it comes with a 40x microlens camera capable of taking microscopic photos, perfect for giving a closer look at Sorsogon’s exotic flora. The phone is quite handy on the go as it also features a 4800mAh battery, which thanks to its SUPERVOOC charging, can be fully charged in about an hour or so. The all-powerful OPPO Reno8 T 5G is now available for pre-order in the Philippines [www.oppo.com.ph/](http://www.oppo.com.ph/) or check out OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok for more information. Storage space for all your pictures and videos is no problem as it has 256GB storage that can go up to 1TB with an SD card.